Heather E. McGowan’s Post

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Keynote Speaker | LinkedIn Top Voice | Eyeglass Addict | Author at The Adaptation Advantage + Empathy Advantage | Aspirational Polymath | Belligerent Optimist | Thalassophile

This post received more engagement than many of my recent posts and now the story has shifted. It has shifted in a way that might be even more informative. Jordan Chiles was recently stripped of her bronze medal and officially now listed as 5th place. Why? It is complicated. Chiles was awarded bronze was score based (re)calculated based upon her degree of difficulty. It was not immediately awarded but after a recalculation of her score when judges accounted for that difficulty-- but, and here is the rub, her coaches appeal to include the difficulty was submitted at 64 seconds after her first score was posted. The rules are appeals must be made in under 60 seconds. 4 seconds. The #olympics like #business is always a game of seconds, inches, and ounces. Some (reportedly both countries) argue both Jordan and the now Romanian bronze winner Anna Bǎrbosa should each receive a bronze (share the medal). I don't pretend to know how this should go, but I this raises some key considerations. The pressure of social media Jordan Chiles publicly announced she is taking herself off #socialmedia Jordan has been asked to return the medal. #mentalhealth #mentalfitness is an extreme challenge in #highperformance individuals and teams. (see the documentary Weight of Gold). I hope Jordan is surrounded by the support she needs right now with this bright light on her. Balancing High Performance and Wellbeing Just like Simone showed us, it is not always going to break your way. How do you handle these moments--fair or unfair? How do you support your greatest talents when you are trying to #lead #highperformance individuals and teams without creating #burnout, while striving for #mentalfitness. Congratulations to Anna and Jordan, you remain a champion in my mind and heart. Alison Levine don't you have something to say about "going all the way to the top"? your sage wisdom might be needed here. #wellbeing Potentially of interest to: Daniela Ochoa, Natalie Nixon, PhD Cassandra Worthy Annalie Killian Jay Callahan Lisa Warren, J.D. Genevieve Babineau Rick Denley Todd Hirsch Kim Faclier Julie Cockerill Lauren Mason Carris ✨Alison Lands, CEcD, PMP Alison Levine

View profile for Heather E. McGowan, graphic

Keynote Speaker | LinkedIn Top Voice | Eyeglass Addict | Author at The Adaptation Advantage + Empathy Advantage | Aspirational Polymath | Belligerent Optimist | Thalassophile

I am Simone Biles super fan She defies gravity. She is undoubtably the #GOAT She bravely modeled #mentalhealth priorities. She taught us to #speakout to protect the most vulnerable. #standup Today, she taught us how to lose with grace. #sportsmanship https://lnkd.in/e2tzHfXy

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Julie Cockerill

🚀 Helping Leaders & Teams Cut Through the Noise and Thrive with Brain, Wellbeing & Emotional Smarts | Building Brain-Friendly Workplaces | 🧠 Neurodivergent Advocate & Educator

2mo

How absolutely gutting for Jordan Chiles Heather E. McGowan. The timing of the appeal etc, so frustrating. I can imagine Jordan is distraught and probably angry. We hold our athletes in such high esteem and we want so badly for them to be successful. The unfortunate thing is that when everything they trained for doesn't go to plan on the day, all the arm chair athletes on social media chime in and it can be awful. Sounds like Jordan is making the right choices for her health and mindset right now.

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Alison Levine

Keynote Speaker, Adventure-seeker, Boundary-breaker, Game-changer, NYT Bestselling Author

2mo

Well, I know this is not the advice you were looking for from me, but I have to throw this out there: It is very telling that so many people, when going through a tough time, announce they are taking a break from social media. WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA? It is not good for our mental health (LinkedIn is one platform that is an exception, but many of the others are just not healthy places to spend our time and energy). And in terms of "going all the way to the top" -- I would remind people that it is really all about the journey!!!! That's where the fun is, an that's where the pain/struggle is as well. That's where the growth happens. If you make it all about the top (or that one moment on the podium), then as soon as you step off of it, you are going to feel like it is "over." The journey, on the other hand, can always continue.

Lauren Mason Carris ✨

🚀 Force Multiplier | 🎯 Strategic Delivery | 👩🏻🎨 Experience Designer

2mo

Oof! It raises SO many questions. Questions about rule clarity, rules and protocols of performance, and the role in negotiating subjective performance evaluation... The emotional roller coaster, the technical detail wrestling, seconds (as you state) that make all the difference in business, life, and on the biggest stages of the world. So how do we support our greatest talents while creating space for mental wellness? Exactly that ... creating space -- and saving space. Acknowledging, championing, sponsoring, and welcoming those high performers right back when they are ready. #HighPerformance #TalentManagement #Burnout #MentalWellness #SpaceAndGrace

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Rick Denley

Keynote Speaker | Developing Peak Performing Leaders

2mo

Thanks Heather E. McGowan for following through with this incredible story. If it's true we never fail, we learn, and that the journey not the end goal or result truly is the gift...A month ago I had a young man (well, 30ish) approach me in a mall, I didn't recognize him. He smiled and called me 'Coach Rick'. He reintroduced himself to me, I had coached him on a team of elite athlete hockey players, some that are now playing professionally. He went on to thank me, I asked "for what"?, you never made it to pro. He shared that he was a troubled teen (which I knew) and receiving the attention and coaching from me helped him be successful (in his terms) at life. He shared that I taught him the importance of punctuality, being confident, losing gracefully, striving to be his best and not compare himself to others, to keep his equipment clean, respect authority figures (refs, coaches, teammates, parents in this case). In his eyes invaluable leasons far more important than hockey specific ones. Leaders help people be their best, give 100%, and be satisfied with that. My encounter with this young man reinforced my belief in this, and who isn't happy to be called 'coach' a decade later. 😊 p.s. I hate sports where judging is involved.

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